Vancouver, BC / June 24th, 2019 / EastWest Bioscience (the “Company” or “EastWest”) (TSX.V: EAST) announces that it has partnered with Avafina Pet Products (“Avafina”) (www.avafinapet.com) to distribute its Natural Pet Science line of pet treats into more than 300 stores across Western Canada. Avafina’s passionate and knowledgeable sales professionals, along with their distribution centre in Coquitlam, BC, provides a strategic distribution and sales partnership into the independent and retail chain channel for EastWest. Avafina’s customer base includes strong independent pet food retailers along with some of the largest growing pet chains in Canada. (Bone & Biscuits, Tail Blazers, and Global Pet Foods).

“We are very excited to have our growing Natural Pet Science SKUs represented in Western Canada by the Avafina team. Having a company that shares our values on supporting the health of our furry family members, and considering our treats to be just that, is absolutely fabulous! We look forward to growing with Avafina Pet for a long time to come.” says Fanika Jovanovic Perika, Global Business Development Leader, EastWest Bioscience.

The first PO has been received and will be in the Avafina Pet Products warehouse by the end of June.

About Avafina Pet Products

Avafina Pet Products is passionate about representing the best possible quality of pet products available – they wish to contribute to the overall success of their customers and the to the well-being of all beloved pets believing that pets are a part of our family and that their needs are important. Avafina takes great pride in serving customers with an educated sales force as well as a friendly staff dedicated to customer service. With twenty years of experience in the business, founder and CEO Kelvin DuBois says “We are very proud of what we do and how we do it. Avafina is excited about this new partnership with EastWest.”

About EastWest Bioscience Group

EastWest Bioscience is a vertically integrated wellness company with the infrastructure to become a global giant in the Hemp & CBD consumer health market. Since it was founded in 2016, EastWest continues to grow as a high-quality producer, manufacturer and distributor of multiple lines of premium health and hemp products. EastWest currently has more than 200+ NPN’s in its stable of products.

In Canada, EastWest has a 34,000 Sq. Ft, Health Canada-licensed, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) – certified manufacturing facility and produces premium nutraceutical brands, offering natural products for a preventive care lifestyle. EastWest and Benchmark Botanicals (BBT-CSE) also have a Joint Venture Intent to accelerate acquisition of Processor, Analytical and Research and Development licenses under the Cannabis Act in EastWest’s Penticton facility. These three classes of the Cannabis Act license will allow Benchmark and EastWest to build out an extensive extraction, laboratory, and research facility at EastWest’s Health Canada Certified facility.

In the USA, EastWest USA has a Joint Venture with Azema Sciences, securing for EastWest first rights on Azema’s output of bulk CBD and finished CBD products manufactured, and which are ready for sale in the USA and globally. EastWest Science USA (“EastWest USA”), EastWest’s US operating division, will be the preferred distributor for Azema’s finished goods. These finished products will include CBD creams, tinctures and salves which are products not currently in EastWest’s catalogue. Additionally, EastWest will have first right of refusal to all potential opportunities relating to Azema’s Kentucky based CBD processing facility. EastWest currently has TSX Approval for sale of its consumer products in 21 US States.

EastWest’s international expansion continues with reach into important key markets in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia through a distributor agreement with New Zealand Hemp Brokers. Headquartered in Rotorua, New Zealand, NZ Hemp Brokers have quickly grown to become one of the country’s most trusted industrial hemp wholesalers, and New Zealand’s only import/export broker specialising in hemp products. NZ Hemp Brokers is licensed by the NZ Ministry of Health to grow, trade in and process industrial hemp, are registered brokers and certified in hemp medicine by the NZ Hemp Foundation.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the terms and conditions of the Acquisition. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.